The Farmers Own Book 2

The Farmers Own Book 2

SPASMODIC COLIC.

 

This is a disease to which horses generally are subject, and in

consequence of improper treatment, it often proves fatal. It is produced

by improper riding, feeding, watering, and may arise from a want of

proper action in the bowels, which occasions constriction of the

intestines and a confinement of the air.

 

 

SYMPTOMS.

 

The horse begins to shift his position, looks around at his flanks, paws

violently, strikes his belly with his feet, and crouches in a peculiar

manner, advancing his hind legs under him, he then suddenly lies or

rather falls down, and balances himself on his back with his feet resting

on his belly. The pain seems to have ceased for a while, and he gets

up and shakes himself; he begins to feed, but in a short time the pain

returns, and is more violent than before; he heaves at the flanks, breaks

out in a profused perspiration, and throws himself more recklessly.

The pulse is little affected in the commencement, but as the disease

progresses, it becomes full. Legs and ears of a natural temperature. The

affection of the strength scarcely perceivable.

 

 

REMEDY.

 

Relief may be obtained from motion in this disease. Take

 

1 ounce of turpentine,

1 ounce of laudanum,

½ pint of gin or good whiskey,

½ pint of warm water.

 

Mix and give it as a drench. Bleed, and if not relieved in half an

hour, repeat the dose, rubbing the belly with a stout brush or a smooth

rail. If not relieved in 15 or 20 minutes, repeat the dose and continue

it until relief is obtained. If the horse be walked about or trotted

moderately, it will relieve the spasms. A glyster with warm soap suds

should be injected, which may be done by burning the peth out of elder,

and filling a bladder with the suds, then tie the bladder on the elder

tight and force it into the fundament, occasionally throwing the warm

suds in until it operates; if a reasonable portion of it remains, it will

do no harm if it does not operate, but will help to relieve the spasms.

This should be done immediately, as in most cases no time is to be lost.

A glyster of tobacco smoke may be thrown in as a last resort. Keep the

horse in a warm stable and give bran mash and plenty of warm or thin

gruel for two or three days.

 

The turpentine, laudanum, gin and warm water were never known to fail if

given at the proper time. Should you not have these medicines at hand,

give 2½ or 3 ounces of peppermint every 15 or 20 minutes until the horse

is relieved; or if you have no peppermint, give same quantity of golden

tincture.

 

The gruel for feeding is made by putting any quantity of bran into

a bucket or tub, then pour boiling water over it, so as to scald it

thoroughly, and cover it with a cloth until it is cool enough for him to

eat.

 

 

INFLAMMATION OF THE BLADDER.

 

In this disease and inflammation of the kidneys, the symptoms are

nearly similar; therefore, in order to ascertain whether the disease

is inflammation of the bladder or inflammation of the kidneys, it is

necessary to introduce the hand into the rectum, where you will find

the bladder immediately under the hand, if it feels hard and full,

accompanied by more than natural heat and tenderness, it is a sure case

of inflammation of the bladder, but if the bladder is empty and no

increased heat is apparent, then it must be a case of inflammation of the

kidneys.

 

In treating these two diseases--though the symptoms are so much alike--be

very careful to observe that the course of treatment recommended in each

is entirely different, and should you give the medicine prescribed for

inflammation of the bladder for that of the kidneys, it will greatly

endanger the life of the horse.

 

 

SYMPTOMS.

 

The early symptoms in this disease are generally those of fever, but the

seat of the disease soon becomes apparent. The horse occasionally looks

round at his flanks, stands with his hind legs wide apart, is unwilling

to lie down, straddles as he walks, evinces great pain in turning,

shrinks when his loins are pressed; the loins feel hot, the urine is

voided in small quantities, which is often highly colored and sometimes

bloody; he tries to urinate very often and strains painfully, but the

discharge is nearly or quite suppressed; the pulse is quick, hard and

full at first, but rapidly becomes small, indicating a disease of the

urinary organs, yet not distinguishing inflammation of the bladder from

inflammation of the kidneys.

 

 

TREATMENT--REMEDY.

 

When you feel satisfied that it is a case of inflammation of the

bladder, blister the loins with the blister ointment and give 1 ounce of

turpentine with 1 ounce of laudanum.

 

 

INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS.

 

The symptoms of this disease are similar to those of inflammation of the

bladder, but are to be treated in quite a different manner. Inflammation

of the kidneys is brought on by over-riding, heavy loads, improper

feeding, and sometimes by being poled on the haunches, or across the

kidneys and loins.

 

 

TREATMENT--REMEDY.

 

Place a mustard plaster made with vinegar across the loins and bleed.

After this give an active purge, and when it begins to abate give of

white helebore from ½ to ¾ of a drachm, and 1½ drachms of tartar emetic,

with ½ a pint of warm water, this should be repeated 2 or 3 times a day,

according to the nature of the disease. For drink, give him warm water

or gruel as much as he will drink, and keep the back and loins warm and

comfortable.

 

 

INFLAMMATION OF THE LUNGS.

 

This disease is generally brought on by sudden cold, hard driving, high

feeding, &c.

 

 

SYMPTOMS.

 

The first appearance of this disease is generally marked by fits of

shivering, accompanied with a coldness throughout the entire body, which,

however, gradually wears off, and he becomes warm, except the ears and

feet; but it sometimes commences slowly, with a hard, dry cough, which

appears to give the horse great pain; he appears dull, and refuses to

eat his food; the pulse is obscure and oppressed--he heaves at the

flanks, the nostrils are extended, the eye-lids and linings of the nose

are inflamed with a disagreeable running at the nose, experiences great

difficulty in breathing, seems very stiff, is unwilling to lie down or

move, and often stands until completely exhausted.

 

 

TREATMENT--REMEDY.

 

Bleed until the pulse becomes round and full, and then the heart will be

able to accomplish its object; next hand rub the legs, well, wrap them up

with flannel bandages as high as the knees, put a blanket on the horse to

keep him warm, but let the stable have a sufficient opening to admit the

fresh air, not so much as to make it cold or chilly. In warm weather the

horse cannot have too much fresh air. The following prescription will be

found very beneficial:

 

1 drachm powdered foxglove,

1½ “ tartar emetic,

3 “ nitre,

4 “ tincture of aloes,

½ pint of warm water.

 

Mix well, give it as a drench and clyster with soap and warm water; when

the focus has become softened a little, _leave off using the tincture of

aloes_, but continue to administer the remaining portion of the above

prescription, and blister the sides and brisket with the blister ointment

every 6 hours. If the ointment should act well on the first application,

there is no further need for it, but should it not act properly continue

the blistering until it does, or until the parts become very sore, and in

two or three days after dress with lard.

 

In the latter stages of the disease it will be found very difficult to

get the blister to act properly on account of the exhaustion of the

natural powers of the animal, but it must be continued, and the sinking

energies aroused, or the horse is lost. The blister is often prevented

from acting by the gig being up.

 

In this disease the treatment should be prompt and decisive, as not a

moment of time is to be lost. The first object should be to subdue the

inflammation, and if the mouth continues hot, the extremities cold, and

the nose red, the horse must be bled again and again in rapid succession,

the good that we can do must be done immediately or not at all.

 

The first step to be taken in this disease is to bleed profusely--let the

lancet used be a large, broad shouldered one, in order that the blood

may be extracted as quick as possible and the disease destroyed without

impairing the strength of the animal. (If the blood be allowed to flow

slowly in a small stream, the strength of the animal will be sapped,

while the disease remains untouched.) Let the blood flow until the pulse

falters and the horse begins to tremble; no harm will be done however if

he should fall by bleeding in this disease. As soon as possible after the

bleeding, give the medicine prescribed; then hand rub and bandage, and

cover with warm blankets; feed him on bran mash and let him run to grass

for a month.

 

 

INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS.

 

This disease arises from various causes, and is frequently brought on by

long standing costiveness, neglected gripes, or hard riding, over heating

and immediately drinking of cold water.